Yaowarat Road
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bangkok's Chinatown is located on Yaowarat Road (เยาวราช) in Samphanthawong district.
The Chinatown is an old business centre covering a large area around Yaowarat and Charoen Krung Roads. There are many small streets and alleys full of shops and vendors selling all types of goods. It has been the main centre for trading by the Chinese community since they moved from their old site some 200 years ago. Nearby Phahurat or Indian market is one of the city's prominent cloth centres.
[edit] History of Bangkok's Chinatown
Chinatown is located in one of the oldest areas of Bangkok. It was set up by Chinese traders who came in junks to trade with Thailand (Siam) during the Rattanakosin period, about 1700s. By the end of 1891, King Rama V had cut many roads, Yaowarat Road is one of them. Therefore Chinatown doesn't consist of only Yaowarat Road, but also covers others such as: Charoen Krung Road, Mungkorn Road, Songwat Road, Songsawat Road, Chakkrawat Road etc. Yaowarat is the centre of the area. The path of the road is like the dragon's curvy body, making it an ideal location for business. Visitors can find here leading gold shops, garments, textiles, stationery, souvenirs, second-hand parts and equipment, electric goods, computer parts, antiques, imported musical instruments and local delicacies etc. The shops are reputed as being cheap and are often wholesales. It might considered a place of interest to visit for shoppers in Thailand. 2003 marked the 111th anniversary of this legendary road.
Currently, land around this road has become the most expensive area in Thailand.
